They investigated Damascus Camp and Ironfoot Kelp and also knew that a large number of criminals at the scene were equipped with Sianweistan.

Internet Surveillance specifically updated the intelligent weapon system.

The few bullets that grazed past John were all automated fire.

This algorithm specifically targets Sianweistan, capable of predicting actions and making predictive counterattacks.

By all rights, John should have been dead.

But for some reason, he dodged them with just a few centimeters to spare.

John clenched his pistol, ready to speak.

He didn't want to kill the state police, just take a hostage, turning the situation in his favor amidst the surrounding major forces.

But an even more unexpected scene unfolded.

Time had decelerated countless times over.

The eyes of the state police could be seen slightly shifting; the frame rate failed to load, even creating illusions of multiple pupils, and that mechanical prosthetic eye locked onto John amidst the chaotic data stream.

[Scan: Messiah's Eye [Odin's Gaze]]

Sianweistan was interrupted.

Time flow returned to normal.

John instinctively pulled the trigger.

But in his vision, an indication of intelligent weapon disconnection immediately appeared.

The trigger clicked without firing.

The expected electromagnetic bullet did not shoot out.

[Intrusion detected...]

Four or five progress bars simultaneously popped up before John, all indicating a hacker intrusion, capable of disabling him in just seconds, or even less.

The state police's gaze was exceedingly calm.

As if completely assured of victory, after all, Sianweistan typically requires cooldown and reset time, unable to...

The state police suddenly froze.

John's figure again became elusive the moment after pulling the trigger.

He followed his inner instinct.

Since the firearm malfunctioned, intrusion already occurred, he must take down the hacker in the shortest possible time.

It's common sense on the streets.

John did just that.

He reactivated Sianweistan, successfully initiated it, swung the gunstock with a reverse grip to knock over the state police's head, single-handedly flipped and pinned the entire person to the ground, securing them like a hostage, pressing them down with his knee against the arm.

Poof.

A faint valve sound echoed.

John's spine buzzed with a brief, slight mechanical noise like an insect's flutter, then fell silent, but a wave of heat caused his coat to curl slightly.

Every gun muzzle in the scene aimed precisely at this place.

John, however, pulled out a data cable from the broken arm, gently resting it just above the state police's neck.

Aimed at its socket.

Click.

The state police showed slight bewilderment.

Then noticed sweat dripping onto their face.

John was heavily panting at that moment.

His back burned as if seared by a hot iron, internal organs felt like tossed into boiling water, and sweat poured from his head, yet he steadfastly stared at the hostage.

The state police couldn't see his palms, could only infer the "weapon" holding him through the extended line.

"A data cable, are you kidding me?"

The state police turned their head to study John.

But in this young man's eyes, he saw a kind of determination.

John's eyelids twitched slightly, seeming to suppress internal anger while forcibly maintaining calm in the situation.

"Keep talking, say a few more words, make me a bit more impulsive, I'm just short of a push to deal with you at any cost."

His fingers moved slightly.

The data connection port made a light scraping sound.

The state police realized this guy wasn't joking, despite unclear specifics, he believed it.

John gave him no time to think, ignoring the continual cries and protests from surrounding Internet Surveillance agents, disregarding those guns aimed at his head.

He only pressed in a deep voice.

"Be wise, Mr. State Police, do you want to perish with a nobody, or go do something more meaningful?"

"You're different from last time, John."

The state police showed a meaningful expression.

John, however, pressed on his neck, forcing him to stand up, then gestured Oulos to follow along.

"I'll take that as consent, spare the nonsense, I don't want to banter with any sanctimonious bastard any longer."

"Do you think it makes sense, John? The game rules in Eden City don't allow people like you to leave, you can't hold me hostage forever, then what? Once you catch a breath, the company or any other agency, whoever, will crush you in the corner, becoming an unmarked corpse no one knows of..."

"Okay."

John calmly responded.

He wasn't affected by the state police's words, his steps were steady and swift, together with the nearby members of Damascus Camp, reorganized a resisting force.

The state police cooperated silently, acting as a dutiful hostage.

The agents of Internet Surveillance seemed to have received instructions, beginning to follow the fixed procedure for on-site lockdown, using different scanners to wander between containers, seemingly searching for something.

In the retreat, John raised his head.

He saw countless red smoke rising sequentially, followed by corresponding projection lights.

Internet Surveillance was categorizing the spoils.

Oulos had already summoned a vehicle.

They opened the car door to find the previously unconscious Armored·Behemoth just seated at the driver's seat, calmly signaling the state police to sit in the front passenger seat.

This Internet Surveillance office director seemed taken aback for a second.

He flashed a relieved smile, then calmly fastened his seatbelt without further exaggerated gestures.

Oulos began negotiating with the state police.

Both were kind who understand the rules, as if those who just sought to put each other to death weren't them.

The black business car slowly drove out of the battlefield.

The atmosphere inside the car became strangely eerie.

Internet Surveillance could bypass major institutions and companies to reach first, surely supported by countless forces behind, presumably harboring unspeakable things among the backup database and spoils.

Oulos spared no expense for this operation.

She didn't want to suffer a loss, nor could she afford to fail.

Otherwise, she'd be swallowed by the corporate interest network of Eden City until being kicked out, like a more advanced tie clip, the end is just as miserable.

Oulos highlighted the pressure on the state police.

Internet Surveillance now stood at the peak of influence.

The parliament wasn't monolithic; there were many factions with significant criticisms, and after completing this mission or overcoming the media crisis, those wanting to bring down the state police would only grow more frantic.

Oulos proposed interest and risk sharing.

This time, the silver port's goods and resources are to be redistributed according to the intelligence held.

Secrets and resources are in the hands of them both.

Damascus Camp could openly receive the warehouse goods, then do business with Plato Company, with Oulos facilitating, making it unclear to any involved party exactly how much was known.

Camp, Internet Surveillance, middlemen.

Unless an institution can simultaneously obliterate all three, and bear each resistance, they must drop it, following the game rules to close the matter.

The state police met Oulos's gaze with approval.

They even shook hands in the car, too bad they didn't prepare champagne flutes, otherwise, they might have had a toast.

John remained silent throughout.

He didn't know what to think or pay attention to their conversation, just silently gazed outside the window.

The illuminating bombs fired at Silver Port had completely extinguished back then.

At this moment, black smoke rose everywhere in the gray sky, passing through twisted, collapsing buildings, hinting of burning stench and indescribable strange smells.

Everywhere were the wounded.

Members of Damascus Camp had no joy of victory.

The black business car slowly drove out.

John saw the giant defensive lines initially established on the wasteland, now battered beyond recognition, countless car wreckages and corpses mixed in the sandstorm.

While they fought inside Silver Port, outside was going through the same, if not more harrowing battles.

John suddenly realized an issue.

Damascus Camp exhausted all in this battle, even if compensated from the interest distribution, it couldn't recover its peak in numbers and solidarity.

Nando's severe injury is sure to cause chaos.

The followers who came with them suffered too many casualties, accommodating new blood would mean re-harmonization, even bringing in some new ideas.

The united Exile collapsed with Kelp's death.

Damascus Camp's development faced a heavy blow.

Who won?

John turned his head towards the car, meeting the smiles of Oulos and the state police.

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.